Valved coupling



AUS 1.2 1947 E. BywxGG'lN's 2,425,500

vALUED vcouPLINGf Y Filed .1u/'1y 7, 1943 2 sheets-,sheen 1 ,fraz/enfer,Een Mggzm deceased Irene Lane M ggz'rzf x www ATTQRN EY.

Aug. l2, 1947; E. B. wlGGlNs 2,425,500

'YALUED COUPLING Filed July 7, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 S x. n NQ m ,w n QQw N g v. rf s, 0 m9. a n W Q W www@ I MS WZ e ,QQ mw v M u Qh e C r h.Q.\ s w I Patented 'Aug'. 12, 1947 i OFFICE- VALVED COUPLING Earl B.Wiggins, deceased, late of Angeles, Calif., by Irene Lane Wiggins,executrix, Los

Angeles, (Jalif.

Application July 7, 1943, Serial No. 493,690

Claims.

,This invention relates to couplings for conduits or the like used forconveying fluids and more particularly to such coupling incorporating avalve structure for automatically closing the conduit when the couplingis disconnected.

'I'he valve .structure contemplated by the present invention is shown byway of example as incorporated in a quick acting coupling of the typedisclosed in a copending application entitled Coupling, filed by IreneLane Wiggins, executrix of the last will and testament of the inventorEarl B. Wiggins, deceased, filed June 15, 1943, and bearing SerialNumber490,882.

It is an object of this invention tovprovide a coupling incorporatingmeans adapted to close automatically the conduit upon separation of thecoupling members, said means being adapted Vto be automatically openedupon coupling of the members.

It is another object of this invention to provide a coupling, whereinthe coupled members are adapted to separate in response to apredetermined axial force urging them apart. and incorporating valvemeans for automatically closing the conduit when the coupled members aredis` connected. v

It is still another object of this invention to 'provide a couplingincorporating a valve means for automatically closing each section ofthe conduit when the coupling members are disconnected, and toautomatically open substantially simultaneously when the members arecoupled.

It, is another object of this invention to provide such a couplingwherein the actuating means for the valves is entirely within thecoupling members when the members are disconnected.

It is another object of this invention to provide such a couplingwherein the flow of fluid through the coupling has no tendency to closethe valve or to Vmove the valve closure so as to restrict the fluidflow.

It is still another object of this' invention to, provide such acoupling wherein proper relative movement of the valve closures withrespect to their seats is assured automatically at all times.

It is still another object of this invention to provide such a, couplingwherein the valve means is 'so arranged as to insure that the valvemeans when open is always so positioned as to provide the maximumpossible free passage for fluid ow past the valve closure.

It is still another object of this invention to provide such a couplingwherein no relative anguiar movement is required between the coupling,member-s to match or align orifices for fluid ilow.

2 It is a still further object of this invention to provide a couplingincluding means for securing lthe coupling members in coupled relationand a sealing gasket ibetween the members in which said means and saidgasket cooperate to cause movement of said valve closure controlling thepassage through the coupling to a predetermined open position, and toaccurately maintain said closure in such position.

'This invention possesses many other advantages and has other objectswhich may be made more easily apparent from a consideration of severalembodiments of the invention. For this purpose there are shown two formsin the draw-y Figure 2 is a sectional view showing the coupling ofFigure 1 disconnected;

Figures 3 and 4 are fragmentary detail sections showing steps inconnecting the coupling members; l

Figures 5 and 6 are cross sections taken on the correspondingly numberedlines of Figure 1;

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing a. modified formof theinvention;

Figure 8 is a section 'taken on line 8-8 of Figure 7 and Figure 9 is aview showing the coupling of Figure '7 disconnected.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings it will be seen that Athecoupling comprises tubular members I0 and II having extensions I2 and I3respectively telescoping one within the other. The outer extension as I2has an interior annular shoulder I4 supporting a sealing ring or gasketI5 of resilient material, for example leather or Neoprene, upon whichthe inner end or face I6 of the other extension I3 is arranged to seatin a fluid tight manner. Means for securing or locking the members I0`and II in coupled relation are provided, comprising a plurality of dogsVIl mounted exteriorly on the extension I2 and engaging a shoulder Iiivon'the extension I3. An operating means comprising a vring I9 freelymovable between limits on the member l0 is provided for urging the dogsI1 tion.

toward locking position, or out of locking posive dogs I1 are so formedand supported with re ect to the shoulder I8 that upon engaging theshoulder, any tendency of the members II)l and II to separate axially,as for example due tothe resilience of the parts, has the e'ect'external restraining influence such as operating ring I9 is needed tomaintain the dogs locked; further, increased longitudinal strain betweenthe members incident to the use of the coupling has no'tendencytorelease the locking means, but instead increases the locking effect.

As clearly shown in the drawings (see also Figures 3, 4, and 6) theextension I2 has a number of axially extending slots 24 formed thereinfor accommodating the dogs I1. Each dog I1 has a projection or tooth onits forward end for engaging the sh'oulder I8 and is provided with aninwardly directed slot 28 intermediate its ends for accommodating aretainer or pivotal supportingmeans 21. As shown in Figure 5, theretainer 21 is in the form of a spring ring ac. commodated in a groove28 in the extension I2 and vsecured therein as by an inturned end 29.The rear ends 3|) of the dogs I1 project outwardly.

The operating ring I9 has a forward portion 3| of reduced diameter forcontacting the dogs I1, a larger rear portion 32 for freely accom- Athering I9 to engage the projections 30 which swings each dog I1 to -bringthe tooth 25 thereon outwardly and out of engagement with the shoulderI8 (see Figure 3). Movement of the ring I9, in the opposite direction,to the right v(Figure 4), will cause the portion 3| to urge the dogs I1inwardly to bring the teeth 25 thereon into engagement with the shoulderI8.

As previously mentioned, the dogs I1 are arranged-'to be self locking.This is achieved as disclosed in the aforesaid copending application inthe following manner. ures 3 and 4 will show that the lower or inneredge |23 of the locking surface of the tooth 25 isat a greater radialdistance from the pivot 21 about which the tooth swings, than is theupper or outer edge |24. Thus, the locking surface |25 of the tooth 25is at a progressively decreasing radial distance with respect to thepivot 21 between the points |23 and |24, andthe surface |25 may betherefore correctly termed a wedging surface. The parts are soproportioned that with the resilient sealing ring or gasket I5 relaxed,and the end face I6 of the coupling section II in contact with saidring, the edge |23 will just engage the outer edge |26 of the shoulderI8; further inward movement of the dog I1 brings portions of the surfaceI 25 of progressively decreasing radius against the edge |26 of theshoulder I8. This wedging action of the surface |25 urges the extensionI3 inwardly of the extension I2 against the resilience of the gasket orsealingring I5, which is thereby slightly compressed in an axialdirection.

The tendency of this ring I5 to resume its normal shape urges theextension I3 outwardly An inspection of Figof the' extension I2, thusforcing the shoulder Il tightly against the surfaces |28 on the dogs.This function of the resilient ring plays an important part in causingthe dogs to be self-locking, inasmuch as the pressure between theabutting surfaces I8 and |25 creates a frictional force which resistsoutward displacement of the dogs with respect to the shoulder. It willbe evident from an inspection of Figures 3 and 4 that the wedge angle ofthe surface |25. or in other words the angle formed between the surface|25 and a line drawn through point |23 and perpendicular to a radialline drawn from pivot 21 to point |23, is very small and is within theself-locking range. It is a well-known mechanical principle that a wedgeis self-locking if the frictional force between the wedging surfacesexceeds the component force acting in a direction parallel to thewedging surfaces and tending to release the wedge. This conditionprevails when the wedge angle is within the range between zero and anangle the tangent of which is equal to the coeicient of friction, andwhich is commonly referred to as the angle of friction. The range fromzero to the friction angle is known as the selflocking range.

In the present instance, the wedge angle of the surface |'25 iswel1within the self-locking range, and hence the frictional forcezdeveloped between the surfaces I8 and |25 by the resilience of the ringI5 is greater than the component, acting parallel to the surfaces I8 and|25, of the force exerted by the ring. The dogs I1 are, in this manner,heldin engagement with the shoulder I8 by forces developed by theresilient ring I5, and independently of the operating ring I9. 'I'heoperating ring is not, therefore, subjected to any component of theaxial force tending to separate thel members III and It function-ssolely as an actuator to move the dogs to and from their lockingposition.

.Since the frictional force acting to retain the dogs. I1 locked is butasmall part of the force urging axial separation of the members III andII, it follows that only a small force is required,

to disengage the dogs I1 from the shoulder I8, and due to the. camaction between the inner surface of the reduced portion 3| on theoperating ring I9 and the portions 30 of the dogs, a iight force urgingthe ring I9 to the left as indicated by the arrow in Figure -3 issuillcient to cause disengagement of the dogs I1. An inspection ofFigure 1 will show that the ring I9 may be moved a' considera-bledistance from its normal position when it is free of the dogs I1, beforeengaging the dogs to cause their release. By providing this lost motion,it is possible to strike a blow on the dogs I1 with the ring I9, toassist in causing their release.

To prevent vibration displacing the ring I9 and possibly causing thedogs I1 to become disengaged, a light compression spring 35 is confinedbetween the wall 33 of the ring I9 and a shoulder 36 on the member I0for resiliently maintaining the ring I9 in its locking or outer positionwith the wall 33 against the stop 34.

The member III has a reduced portion 38 on which is secured a flexiblehose or conduit 33, as by a conventional clamp 40. A similar hose orexible conduit 42 may be secured to the mem` ber |I.by clamp 43 in alike manner. However, as shown in said copending application, one of themembers vII) or |I may have an exteriorly threaded exten-sion adaptedfor receiving a me- $61110 tube or pipe. The member II may also beasiatico 5 provided with an integral mounting flange 44 ii desired,whereby the coupling and associated conduits may be supported.

. To couple the conduit 33 with the conduit 42, the vring I3 isretracted against the force 0i' the spring 35 swinging the dogs I1outwardly. The extension I2v is then slipped over the extension I3, theface IB engaging the seat I5. The ring IIS is. then moved ahead orto theright which forces the dogs I1 into locking position, as .justdescribed. When it is desired to uncouple and disconnect the members I2and I3, the operating ring I3 is moved to the left against the forceofthe spring 35, which causes the dogs I1 to disengage the Ishoulder I3,allowing the members I2 and I3 to be separated aby relative axialmovement.

An important feature 'in preventing leakage between the members I and IIis the arrange; ment` ofthe resilient seal ring I5, as best shown in.l'igure 4.` This ring I5 as previously mentioned is mounted on anannular shoulderA I4, being retained thereon by means of a shallowannular recess or groove Wim which thevouter edge of the ring I isinserted. This is a very useful arrangement, since the resilience of thering I5 permits it to be suiilciently deformed for easy removal orreplacement when necessary; further," the ring I5 is securely held inplace on the shoulder I4 without the need of detachable parts for thispurpose. Hence, the coupling section I0 does not require disassembllngfor installationl of the ring I5. This ring I5 is substantially widerthan the face I6 and coaxial therewith. Thus, as the face I6 is urgedagainst the ring I5, a central annulus of the ring is depressed so thatthe ring seals against both the inner and outer edges of the face I6. Inthis vway leakage of pressure from either the outside 'or inside of thecoupling past this face is effectively prevented.

. It may be desirable to provide one or both of the coupling members I0and II with valve means arranged to close automatically when the membersare separated, thereby preventing discharge of iluid from one or bothsections of the previously joined conduit.

In' that form of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 6, the memberII is shown as provided with such an automatic valve 50 for closing theconduit 42 when the coupling members I Il and II are separated. For thispurpose the member II is formed in two sections, one section 5I carryingthe tubular extension I3 and the other section 52 carrying the reduced-portion 4I. The sections 5I and 52 are threadcdly connected at 53, asuitable gasket 54 being providedto prevent leakage between thesections. As shown, the supporting flange 44 is securedto the member. IIby having an opening 55 for accommodating the threaded portion of thesection 52, a thinv nut 56 on this threaded portion serving to clamp theflange 44 against the section 5I.

The section. 5I provides a chamber 58 for the head 59 of' the valve 50and .provides a seat 60, whichfaces' inwardly or away from the open end0f the member II, for a resilient facing BI on the valve 50. The valvemember 50 includes a plurality -of guide wings 62 extending from thehead 59 through the extension I3, serving to guide the valve member 50for axial movement withjrespect to its seat 60 as well as to unseat thevalve 5I) when the members I0 and II are coupled. A compression spring53 is provided for urging the valve 50 toward its seat. As shown inFigure I the valve 50 to seat and close the passage through a conduitsecured thereon as before.

v2, `when the members s u I0 and II are separated, the valve 50 is.seated by the spring 53 and the wings 32 have portions -84 which extendbeyond the end of the extension I3. When the members III and II arecoupled, these portions 34 engage a shoulder as I4 in the member IIIwhich forces the valve 50 oil its seat against the force of the spring33. Thus, the act of coupling the members I Il a nd II unseats the valve55 and opens a passage through the memberI I I to the conduit 42;conversely, separating these members causes the member I I.

Animport-ant feature of this invention is the cooperating 4annularsealing surfaces formed by the face I8 of the extension I3 and thegasket I5, which together with the dogs I1 serve to accurately locatethe extensions I2 and I3 in substantially the ysame relative axialposition .whenever the coupling members are ,coupled and to maintainthem in this position. In this way the abutment or shoulder I4 lwhichengages the yextension or wings 62 of the'valve 50, is always eiectiveto 'move the valve closure 50 to a predetermined position in the chamber58 whereby the passages about the valve 55 to the opening through thecoupling on either side of the valve are always substantiallyequal. Thisis important in securing the optimum ilow through the coupling.

Another feature is that the force exerted by the spring63 tending toseat valve 50 acts, when the members III and II are coupled, to urge themembers axially apart. As previously pointed out, the coupling Vmeanscomprising dogs I1 and shoulder I8 are so arranged that when the membersII) and II are coupled, an-y force urging the members axially -apartacts to retain the dogs I1 in coupling position, hencel the forceexerted by spring 63 operates to retain the dogs I1 against uncoupling,supplementing the force supplied :by the resilience of the gasket I5. v

Figures '1, 8 and 9 illustrate a modiiied form of coupling incorporatinga pair of valves for automatically closing both-fconduits. The generalstructure of this coupling is substantially the same as the iirst`Vform, comprising a pair of tubular members IIO and III vwith telescopingextensions II2 and II3, a sealing ring IIS, locking dogs II1 cooperatingwith a shoulder H8 and an operating ring II9. The member III is providedwith a valve |50 having guide wings |62 and whichoperates to close thepassage through the member III when the members IIIl and III areseparated as in the previously described form. However, instead of thevalve |50 being unseated by engagement with a fixed shoulder, the wings|62 enage another and similar valve 10 in the member III), the valvesoperating to mutually and substantially simultaneously unseat each otherwhen the members are coupled.y The extension II2 is provided-with aported wall forming a seat 1I for the valvev 1Il, which is accommodatedin a chamber 12 formed on the extension II2 by a cylindrical wall 13.This chamber is closed by an interiorly threaded cap 14 with a reducedend 15 adapted to have able gasket 16 is interposed between the cap 14and the end face of the wall 13. The valve 10 includes a head or bodyportion 11 with a resilient facing 18 f o'r cooperating with the seat1I, and guiding wings 19 which cooperate with the inner surface of thewall 13 to guide the valve for axial movement. By threading the cap Asuit- 14 on the exterior of the wall 13, it is possible to provide forthe necessary movement of the valve 10 as well as to have the wings 19sunlciently long to satisfactorily guide the valve without having a.long coupling member. A compression spring 80 confined betweenthe valve10 and the cap 14 urges the valve 10 to seat.

It will be apparent that when the members and |I| are separated as showninvFigure 9, the valve |50 will be urged to its seat |60 by the spring|63, closing the opening through the member and the valve 10` will beurged to vits seat 1| by the spring 19, closing the opening through themember H0. When the members ||0 and are coupled, as shown in Figure 7,the ends of the wings |62 of the valve |50 engage the end of anextension 8| on the valve 'i0 and the valves are mutually unseated,opening the passage through the members ||0 and To prevent the valve |50being moved so far inwardly of the chamber |58 as-to restrict theopening between the chamber and the associated conduit, a stop isprovided which comprises a spring ring 82 encircling the wings |62 andsuitably secured thereto, as by engaging a groove 83 formed in the wingsand adapted to engage a shoulder 84 in the extension H3 upon a desiredmovement of the valve |50. e

Means are also provided to limit the movement of the valve 10 away fromits seat 1| to insure against restriction of the opening between thechamber 12 and the conduit vconnected to the member ||0. Thus, the wings19 are arranged to engage the outermost coil of the spring 80, which isin contact with the cap 10. This limits'the opening movement of thevalve 10. I'he arrangement is such that, as will be apparent from aninspection of Figure '1,

, when the members ||0 and are connected,

the wings |62 of the valve- |50 and the exten-A sion 8| of the valve 10are in contact, valve |50 is substantially at the limit of its movementdue to the engagement of the ring 83 with the shoulder 84 and the valve10 is also substantially at the limit of its movement with the wings 19in engagement with the outer coil of the Spring 80. It will beunderstood that appropriate clearances must be provided on thecontacting parts to allow for manufacturing tolerances as well as theresilience of the gasket ||5. However, these clearances are so small asto be of no effect on the important advantages of this arrangement whichwill now be pointed out. As in the form of the invention utilizing asingle valve, the forces exerted by the springs 80 and |63 urging therespective valves 10 and |50 toward closed position also urges members||0 and apart and thus in a similar manner assists the resilience of thegasket in retaining dogs ||1 in coupling position.

The necessity o f preventing excessive movement of the valve member fromits seat has just been explained; it Vis also necessary that the valvemember be moved a sufcient distance from its seat to provide properopening between the valve and its seat. As previously mentioned, it isdesirable that the valve member when unseated, be always moved toapredetermined position. The described arrangement insures that eachvalve member or |50 will always assume a predetermined position in itsrespective chamber 12 or |58 when unseated inresponse to coupling ofth'e members |0 and without the need of providing carefully balancedsprings 00 and |63 for 8 seating the valves. This positioncan be sodetermined that a minimum restriction occurs in the coupling members ||0and ,of a given length of chamber 12 or |58. Thus, referring to Fig- 5ure 7 it will be seen that the passage B betweenv valve member ,|50 andthe opening through the seat |60 is substantially unobstructed while thepassage C between the valve member |50 and the opening between th'econduit and chamber |58 10 is somewhat obstructed by the spring |63.Accordingly. for optimum results, in its open position the valve member|50 must be placed to substantially equalize the effective openings ofpas.- sages B and C, due to regard being had to friction l5 losses.Tests have shown that a small deviation from such optimum positionresults in a marked \1oss of uid handling capacity of the coupling. Asomewhat similar'situation exists in connection with the valve member10, it being desir- 2o able to accurately position it when open toequalize the passages D and E. The disclosed arrangement serves toaccurately move the valve members to open position.

Another important feature of this arrangement is that the valve memberswhen open are positively held against movement in either direction.Thus, the iiuid even though flowing through the coupling at a greatvelocity, is prevented from moving either valve member by itself or thepair of valve members as a unit toward or away from the seats in themanner of a check valve, with resulting restriction in the iiuid iiow.

The provision of the extension 8| on the valve member 10 enables the useof wings |62 on th'e other valve member |50 which are of such length asto be wholly within the coupling member ||I carrying the valve member,when the valve member is seated. Thus, as clearly shown in Figure 9, theends of the wings |62 of the valve member |50 are substantially ush withthe face of th'e tubular extension 3, when the coupling members |`|0 andare separated and the valve' member |50 is seated. Similarly, theextension 8| is wholly within the tubular extension ||2 of the member H0when the valve member 10 is seated. This is an important advantage sincein this way accidental unseating of either valve member or 10 isprevented and possibility oi' damage to the wings or valve members isavoided. By referring to Figure 8 it will be seen that the extension 0|is formed of wings |05 which do not materially obstruct the ilow offluid past the wings |62 regardless of the relative angular positions ofthe valve members 10 and |50. Hence it is not necessary to provide anymeans for angularly positioning the valve members 10 and |50 or couplingmembers ||0 and in any definite relationship when the coupling membersare conknected.

Either form of coupling as described may be operated as a self releasingcoupling by slight modications, as disclosed in said copendingapplication. For this purpose the coupling is arranged to be supportedby means of the operating ring 65 I9 in lieu of the ange 44 and which asindicated by broken lines in Figure 1 is provided with a flange |3|.This ange it is to'be understood serves to mount the coupling in adesired manner. This action can be visualized in connection withFigure 1. Thus, assuming the ring I9 is fixed as by the ange |3| and themember Il is pulled to the right as indicated by the arrow |33, themember I0 carrying the dogs |1 will move with itwcausin'g the ends 30 ofthe dogs I1 to engage the reduced portion 3| of the ring I9 and 9release the dogs. 'I'his is the same action as that previously describedto release the dogs involving a movement of the ring i9 to the left asindicated in Figure 3. It will be apparent that by appropriate choice ofthe part by which the coupling is restrained or supported, axial forcetending to separate the coupling members may be caused to increase thelocking eiiect of the means preventing disconnection of the members, orto eiiect such disconnection.

It will be readily understood thatitheAvuse of a valve in either one orboth members of a coupling used in this manner, which valve operatesautomatically to close the passage through the coupling member when themembers are separated and to open the passage when the members arecoupled is of great advantage.

What is claimed is:

1. In a coupling comprising a pair of members having tubular -extensionsadapted to be secured in telescopic relationship, means formingcooperating annular sealing surfaces respectively on said members andlserving to limit relative axial movement between said members incoupling direction, releasable means securing said mem-V`= bers withsaid surfaces in sealing contact and optionally preventing separation ofthe members, valve means in one of said members for controlling thepassage therethrough and including a valve closure movable in an axialdirection between passage opening and passage closing position, meansresiliently opposing movement of said closure to open position, saidclosure having an extension, and means forming an abutment in said othermember for engaging said extension when the members are coupled, to movesaid valve closure to open position, said securing means, said sealingsurfaces and said abutment means cooperating with said extension to movesaid valve closure to a predetermined open position upon movement ofsaid members to coupled relation. and to positively maintain said valveclosure in said open position.

2. In a coupling comprising a pair of members having tubular extensionsadapted to be secured in telescopic relationship, means formingcooperating annular sealing surfaces respectively on.

said members and serving to limit relative axial movement between saidmembers in coupling direction, releasable means securing said memberswith said surfaces in sealing contact and optionally preventingseparation of the members, valve means in one of said members forcontrolling the passage therethrough and including a valve closuremovable in an axial direction between passage opening and passageclosing position, means resiliently opposing movement of said closure toopen position, said closure having an extension, and means forming anannular surface in said other member for engaging said extension whenthe members are coupled to move said valve closure to open position,whereby the passage through said member is substantially unobstructed.

3. In a coupling comprising a pair of members having tubular extensionsadapted to be secured in telescopic relationship, means formingcooperating annular sealing surfaces respectively on said members andserving to limit relative axial movement between said members incoupling direction. releasable means securing said members with saidsurfaces in sealing contact and optionally preventing separation of themembers, valve means in on'e of said members for controlling the passagetherethrough and including a valve closure movable in an axial directionbetween passage opening and passage closing position, means resilientlyopposing movement of said closure to open position, said closure havingan extension, and means forming an abutnient in said other member andaxially spaced from the contacting sealing surfaces for engaging saidextension when the members are coupled, to move said valve closure toopen position, said securing means, said sealing surfaces and saidabutment means cooperating with said extension to move said valveclosure to a. predetermined open position upon movement of said membersinto coupled relation, and to positively maintain said valve closure insaid open position.

4. In a valved coupling, a pair of axially separable tubular members,valve means associated with at least one of said'members for controllingthe opening therethrough, means on the other member for opening saidvalve means when the members are coupled, means exerting 'a forceyieldingly resisting opening movement of said valve means andtherebyurging said members apart, and means for coupling said memberscomprising locking dogs and a cooperating shoulder'` respectively onsaid members, said dogs and said shoulder having interengaging surfacesdisposed at a wedge angle, with respect to the direction of movement ofsaid surfaces into engagement, lying within the self-locking range,whereby When the members are coupled the said force-exerting means actsto retain the dogs in locking position.

5. In a valved coupling, a pair of axially separable tubular members,valve means associated with at least one of said members for controllingthe opening therethrough, means on the other member for opening saidvalve means when the y members are coupled, coil spring means yieldinglyresisting opening movement of said valve 'means and thereby urging saidmembers apart, and means for'coupling said members comprising lockingdogs and a cooperating shoulder respectively on said members, said dogsand said shoulder having interengaging surfaces disposed at a.v

wedge angle, with respect to the direction of movement of said surfacesinto engagement, lying within the self-locking range, whereby said dogsare retained in locking engagement with said shoulder by the forceexerted by said spring means.

6. In a valved coupling, a pair of axially separable tubular members,valve meansy associated with each of said members for controlling theopenings therethrough,l the valve means associated with each memberbeing adapted to be opened by engagement with means on. the other memberwhen the members are coupled, means associated with each of said valvemeans for exerting a force resistingl opening movement thereof andthereby urging said members apart, and means for coupling said memberscomprising locking dogs and a cooperating shoulder respectively on saidmembers, said dogs and said shoulder having interengaging surfacesdisposed at a wedge angle, with respect to the direction of movement ofsaid surfaces into engagement, lying within the self-locking range,whereby said dogs are' retained in locking engagement with said shoulderby said force-exerting means.

7. In a valved coupling, a pair of axially separable tubular members,valve means associated with each of said members for controlling theopenings therethrough,'each of said valve means f being adapted toengage and open the other valve l1 means when the members are coupled,spring means yieldingly resisting opening movement ot said valve meansand thereby urging the members apart, resilient sealing means on one ofsaid members adapted to be engaged and axially de- `formed by means onthe other member when the members are coupled, said sealing means yarable tubular members, valve means associated with at least one of saidmembers for controlling the opening therethrough, means on the othermember for opening said valve means when the members are coupled, meansexerting a force `yieldingly resisting opening movement of said valvemeans and thereby urging said members apart, and means for coupling saidmembers comprising lockngdogs and a cooperating shoulder respectively onsaid members, said dogs and said shoulder adapted to interlock uponcoupling. of the tubular members, whereby force exerted by said forceexerting means tends vto retain the shoulder and dogs in interlockedcondition.

9. In a valved coupling, a pair of axially separable tubular members,-valve means associated with at least one of said members forcontrolling the opening therethrough, means on the other member foropening said valve means when the members are coupled, means exerting aforce yieldingly resisting opening movement voi? said valve means andtherebyurging said members apart, resilient sealing means on one of saidmembers adapted to be engaged and-axially deformed, by means on theother member when the members are coupled, said `sealing means when sodeformed exerting ajforce urging said members apart, and means forcoupling said tubular members, whereby force exerted` by said ing meansand said deformed resilient sealing means.

10. In a valved coupling, a pair ot axially separable tubular members,valvemeans associated with at least one of said members for controllingthe opening therethrough, means on the other member for opening saidvalve means when the members are coupled, means exerting` a forceyieldingly resisting opening movementof said valve means and therebyurging said members apart, and means for coupling said memberscomprisingcooperative locking instrumentalities respectively-onl said members,said instrumentalities adapted to interlock upon ,coupling pi! vtheforce exerting means tends to retain said locking instrumentalities ininterlocked condition.

IRENE LANE WIGGINS,

Emecutria: of the Last Will and Testament 'of- Earl B. Wiggins,Deceased.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ille ofthis patent:

UN/ITED' STATES PATENTS 1,680,138 Edelmann Aug. 7, 1928

